Summer Camps

***If registering after June 1st, your child may not receive the requested size t-shirt. Due to the necessity of ordering all the t-shirts at one time. Please call with questions!

Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter and Utah State University Extension 4-H provide a wide range of summer camp opportunities for youth entering Kindergarten through 8th grade. Camp topics include outdoor exploration, environmental education, science, and stewardship. We try to make our summer camp opportunities available to everyone by keeping our prices affordable and providing scholarship information. In addition to campers in Kindergarten through grade 8, we also provide leadership opportunities for teens in grades 9 to 12 to engage in our summer camps. These teens can apply to be teen camp counselors and help Swaner's camp staff lead camp activities and keep campers safe. Click here for more information on how to become a teen camp counselor. We hope to see you this summer!

New for Summer 2015!

Swaner's education staff is excited to announce a number of BIG changes to the 2015 Summer Camp program.

Kindergarten Camps: Two sessions of camp for children entering kindergarten will be offered this summer. Read below of descriptions of the camps.

Full day sessions for 1st through 4th graders: Full day camps for 1st through 4th grade children will be available this summer. If you would like to enroll your child in a full day of camp fun, select the AM and PM sessions for the desired week. A supervised lunch hour with both unstructured play and fun activities will be offered. Children who stay for lunch hour will be expected to bring a sack lunch. Parents will also have the option to pick their child up for lunch hour.

2015 Themes

THEMES

GRADE(S)

DETAILS

Super Sampler

Kindergarten

*SOLD OUT* Not really sure what your favorite thing is yet or do you love it all? Then this is the camp for you! Try out a number of different activities offered at Swaner, including adventuring in the outdoors and catching frogs, creating awesome art to take home, and conducting explosive experiments.

Eco-Explorers

Kindergarten

*SOLD OUT* Spend your time at camp outside exploring the wetlands, streams, and uplands of the Swaner Preserve. You will get to catch frogs and bugs, learn about the many mammals that call the Preserve home, and create some fun crafts to take home.

Outdoor Exploration

1st and 2nd

*SOLD OUT* Are you tired of being inside after a whole year of school and ready to get outside to explore? If so, you have to check out Swaner's outrageous Outdoor Exploration camp! Get ready for a week of collecting tadpoles, frogs, insects, and plant specimens. You will also learn about animal adaptations and wildlife tracking, explore wetland habitats, work on some awesome art, and so much more!

FUNdamental Science

1st and 2nd

*SOLD OUT* Grab your safety goggles and get ready for bubbling, fizzing, exploding experiments! In this camp you'll get to participate in and conduct all sorts of exciting science experiments. Create a volcano, learn about the 3 states of matter, and more in this sensational science-themed camp.

NEATure Art

1st and 2nd

*SOLD OUT* Do you think nature is neat? Are you into art? This is the perfect camp for you! Come prepared to use nature as inspiration for your art. You will get to use a variety of mediums to make some cool creations to take home at the end of the week.

Swaner Scientists

3rd and 4th

In this camp you'll get to explore science inside and out! Spend a day out on the Preserve testing water and soil samples, and collecting plant samples to get a close up look under a microscope. Explore engineering by building a bridge, check out chemistry through a number of chemical reactions, and more.

Wetland Warriors

3rd and 4th

Do you love plants, animals, weather, water, and every other part of the outdoors? Spend your week learning about the Swaner Preserve and all its inhabitants. You'll get to catch frogs, bugs, and maybe a few other fun friends. Start your own plant press to safely keep all your favorite specimens, learn about conservation, and how you can help protect your favorite outdoor spaces.

Build Your Own Adventure

3rd and 4th

Are you interested in engineering and the outdoors? Do you want to build your own bristlebot, learn about hydraulics, and get to explore nature? Build Your Own Adventure campers will learn about STEM topics, as well as adventure to the outdoors for hiking and team building activities. If you are ready for a week full of indoor AND outdoor fun, be sure to register for this camp!

Watershed Explorers

5th to 7th

Have you ever wondered where all the water you use for cooking, cleaning, bathing, and recreating comes from? This camp offers 5 days of adventure to explore the local Weber, Jordan, and Provo River Watersheds. You will test water quality, sample macroinvertebrates, visit local water reclamation plants, and more. Wrap up the week with a fun day trip to the Great Salt Lake to learn a little more about this unique body of water. This camp travels off-site.

Swaner Super Sleuths

5th to 7th

Are you ready to solve a mystery? Become an environmental detective as you explore the Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter, and gather clues each day to solve an environmental challenge! Using teamwork and technology, discover the science behind collecting and analyzing evidence as well as the power of observation. Bring your detective skills to investigate the many mysteries waiting to be discovered on the 1,200 acre preserve! This camp may travel off-site.

Counselors in Training (CITs)

7th and 8th

This program is designed for 7th and 8th graders who are interested in making the jump from camper to counselor. In each session you'll learn about the skills necessary to be a leader including conflict resolution, team building, communication, and goal setting. You'll get the opportunity to work with younger campers and show them just how excited you are about camps at Swaner! Each session includes a fun team building field trip on Friday, as well as group activities each day. This camp travels off-site.

IMPORTANT: Youth may attend camps that are for grade levels lower than their own but absolutely may not attend a camp that is designed for a grade level higher than their own. For example, a camper entering 5th grade in Fall 2015 could attend a camp for youth entering 4th grade in Fall 2015, but could not attend a camp for youth entering 6th grade in Fall 2015. Our camp curriculum is specifically designed to be age appropriate, and it is very difficult to accommodate a variety of ages during camp activities. It is highly recommended that youth are enrolled in a camp that reflects their grade level.

Registration Fee Discounts

Members of Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter receive a 10% discount on camp registration fees. Click here for information on how to become a member.

Discounts are given for registering for multiple camps. If you register for two camps you will receive a 5% discount. If you register for three or more camps you will receive a 10% discount. Children from the same family can combine for the multi-camp discount. For example, if you have two children and register each of them for two camps (a total of four camps), you will receive a 10% discount. Multi-camp discount codes will be given during registration.

Discount Codes can be found on the EventBrite registration page near the bottom or contact Katherine Veeder at 435-797-8942 for more information.

Please note: Only siblings/family can receive the multi-camp discount. Multi-camp discounts are IN ADDITION to the Swaner Member discount.

Scholarships for Youth with Financial Need

Full and partial scholarships for our summer camps are available for campers with financial need. There are a limited number of scholarships available, and scholarships are awarded to qualified campers on a first-come, first-served basis. Please register early as the scholarships are awarded quickly.

For the scholarship application, please fill out the CAMP REGISTRATION FORM, including the scholarship portion. The camp registration form must be turned in via email or to the front desk at Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter. If you are awarded a scholarship, you will receive notification via email or phone call. If you are awarded a partial scholarship, your remaining balance is due by the first day of camp. Please call Katherine Veeder at 435-797-8942 or email Katherine.Veeder@usu.edu for more information or with any questions you may have.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel more than 2 weeks before the first day of camp, you will be refunded minus a 25% fee. If you cancel less than 2 weeks before the first day of camp, we will refund you (minus the 25% fee mentioned above) only if we can fill your spot from the waitlist. If we cannot fill your spot, you will not be refunded. We cannot refund you for days missed during camp.

Please pay very close attention when registering for our summer camps. We have multiple camps each week for different aged youth. When registering, please make sure you select the camp with the correct date, age range, and time for your child/children.

The online registration system used for Swaner summer camps only accepts payment via credit card. If you would like to pay with cash or check, please fill out a paper application and return to the Swaner EcoCenter during our open hours (Wednesday-Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm). Cash, check, and credit card are accepted at teh EcoCenter front desk.